Maggie Hanna came to The Dalles in September for an 11-month stay through the Resources for Rural Environments (RARE) program.
Hanna said rural is a good fit for her.
“I was born and raised on a cow-calf operation in Colorado,” she said. “It’s something I would love to go back to at some point.”
Hanna attended Trinity University in San Antonio Texas, majoring in history and urban studies.
She’s no stranger to the philanthropic environment. After graduation, she worked at a two-year fellowship for the El Pomar Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation that provided grants to nonprofits and agencies around Colorado. She directed the foundation’s community outreach and stewardship program.
During her stay at El Pomar, Hanna was program director for two big projects, the Northeast Regional Council and the Pike’s Peak Regional Council.
“They were councils of community members and community leaders used to direct [foundation] funding more effectively,” she said.
She also worked at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust.
“It’s a land conservation group geared at putting conservation easements on working ag lands around the state of Colorado,” Hanna said. “In Colorado, we do not have the land use planning laws like those in Oregon. Conservation easements allow families to maintain their working ranches but get rid of development rights to their property in exchange for money and tax credits.”
Hanna heard about the RARE program from a coworker at El Pomar.
“It thought it was a way of working and learning in another rural environment,” she said. She also liked the challenge of living and working somewhere outside Colorado. “I was excited about the opportunity to learn and give to the community.”
The Dalles is actually a step up in size from Hanna’s hometown, with more amenities to choose from. She’s taking full advantage of the outdoor activities available.
“I enjoy running,” she said, “and I love the bike path on the river, it’s so fantastic and flat.”
Hanna also enjoys exploring The Dalles and learning about its history. She has also branched out further. Since arriving in September, she attended the Pendleton Roundup and visited the Stonehenge World War I monument near Maryhill Museum of Art.
Originally Published in The Dalles Chronicle
P.O. Box 1910
The Dalles, Oregon 97058
Phone: 541-296-2141 Fax: 541-298-1365